Sooz Simpson

I don’t know how I came about this book, I think it was recommended in a group, but imagine my joy when I started reading to find that it’s set in my area—not many fiction books are. It ramped up my enjoyment no end, as I knew all the places mentioned. This story unveils a deep secret that a pillar of the local community has been hiding. Nobody would ever imagine that the school headmistress, Jessie, had ever done such a thing. It’s a compelling narrative woven around the complexities of Jessie Whelan’s life. She’s a teacher hiding under a façade of deception. The book explores the intricacies of Jessie's character, portraying her as a woman driven by the desire to safeguard her independence and career. It’s a very honest look at the fact that not all women want to have their peaceful life turned upside down. But once bitten isn’t twice shy for our Jessie. As she embarks on a clandestine love affair, it captures the tension between vulnerability and the yearning for connection, making the reader empathetic to Jessie's dilemma And we see the story from the flip side of the coin, too. Set against the backdrop of the north-west corner of England in the early twentieth century, Sutton's writing skilfully paints a picture of Cumbria, building an immersive experience for readers. I adored the travelogue elements of the story. The portrayal of interconnected lives adds several layers of richness to the narrative. The unveiling of Jessie's secret past keeps the reader turning pages to uncover the mystery within the picturesque landscapes. This is the captivating first book in a trilogy called Between the Mountains and the Sea. The evocative storytelling offers a poignant exploration of love, deception, and the intricate dance of lives in a historical setting that comes to life within beautiful West Cumbria.

This is a delightful and heartwarming addition to a series that radiates love and creativity. The heart of these books is that they teach your little ones how to be ‘good people’. In this instalment, we go on a charming 5-year-old’s Valentine's Day adventure with the endearing characters Hannah Banana and her little sister Mary Berry. The narrative captures the spirit of the holiday and imparts valuable lessons about expressing love without the need for extravagant gestures. The storytelling is infused with warmth, making it a beautiful read-aloud for an uplifting experience. The author does all of her illustrations and combined with her always kind words, the two components come together to make a perfect story for young children. Either element without the other would be flat. The series inspires thinking about values in young readers. Hannah engages in heartfelt actions like making a card for her cousin and having a conversation with Grandma. The story is a wonderful guide for children learning how to express love in thoughtful ways. The writing, coupled with charming illustrations, creates a narrative that is entertaining and morally educational, encouraging young readers to understand the importance of small gestures in fostering meaningful connections. Little Girl's Big Love will resonate with children and the adults reading with them, fostering an atmosphere of love and kindness.

This book is a collection of uplifting quotes. It gives the reader a daily affirmation to kick-start us. Fitzgerald's writing is positive, providing a hit of motivation to brighten dull moments and tough days. The book is inspirational and designed as a celebration of life. The one-quote format makes it easily digestible, letting readers incorporate positivity into their daily routine. Every day starts with optimism and it tells readers to grab life with gratitude and enjoy it. On a personal note, I’ve just been put on some medication and I don’t enjoy having to take regular tablets for the first time in my life, so I take my pills with Joslin’s quote for the day and it makes me smile—and makes the tablets easier to swallow. March 11th is my favourite quote so far. (I read ahead and finished the book to be able to write the review.) Now I’m back to reading them one-a-day. Joslin Fitzgerald is inspiring and her warmth makes A Daily Celebration a remarkable gift for loved ones or a companion for people looking for inspiration. Her enthusiasm for life shines through the words, creating a lovely reading experience. If you're navigating challenges or looking for a positive start to the day, this collection encourages you to find beauty in every moment. Fitzgerald's quotes remind us that joy can be found in the everyday, making this book a must for anybody that needs a lift.

George King, a private detective in London, isn’t doing great. His wife kicked him out when he left the Metropolitan Police and his apartment is an office over a Chinese takeaway. The women who loved his body and his sex, have deserted him. He’s pleased when a case comes in from a sexy client, but it gets messy—and involves people he’d rather not tangle with, including Gloria. He doesn’t know her, but she knows him. Tight, sexy writing. The plots are good and we get right into the action. Good descriptions and believable dialogue. I like George, but his internal dialogue and roving eye mean that women shouldn’t touch him with a nine-foot pole, but he’s a good egg. I like him. Great writing and fast-paced—a mystery to solve, drugs, underhand dealings, and dodgy dealings, what’s not to like? I recommend this book.

A BBE RECOMMENDED READ AWARD WINNER I’ve been looking forward to this, and I wasn’t disappointed. I messed up big time and accidentally read book 3 before book 1—but even knowing how the story develops much later, it didn’t detract from this one bit, and if anything, it added another layer of being able to go back and find out how it all began. We say books, ‘Had me gripped from the first page.’ This book did that with knobs on. The opening scene is electric and an excellent opening precursor to the rest of the story. In this story, we predominantly follow Jay and Edel–but we keep track of Danny’s story, too, until the two parties collide—and that’s explosive. But the darling of this book is Edel. She is so absolutely human. The way the author describes her thoughts and feelings is sublime. Anybody who has ever felt that they don’t fit in will empathise with every word and moment of utter confusion. The writing doesn’t bother to stop at brilliant, it just carries on to whatever is better than that. I don’t read sci-fi, and this isn’t my genre of book at all—but it is still one of my favourite books of the last five years. Even the sci-fi elements, which would normally leave me cold, are so well written that I loved them. Ashley Reverie is a great writer. She understands moods and emotions and twists them until they snap. My favourite author ever is Dean Koontz and Ms Reverie can keep pace with him. A highly recommended read and one not to be missed.

Oh, come on. Who doesn’t love Dorcas? She’s great. From her adorable, quirky speech pattern to her rolling pin, that’s never far from her hand to attack with, she’s perfect. In this book, we sidestep the ongoing saga and look at Dorcas’ life. Readers are treated to a compelling and darkly enchanting exploration of her past. Dorcas, the Brownie, longstanding friend and Nanny to the Cracklock family, is an inspired character with a story to tell. She started life as a charming and very naughty brownie in Fae, and it was there that her character grew and developed into the girl we all love. The narrative takes us away from twinkling fairy songs to the dark corners of Fae. The story is a blend of intrigue, magic, and the consequence of innocent mischief gone too far. The emotional depth given to the character is lovely. And we encounter mythical beings like Jenny Greenteeth ( I love her). We find out the reasons behind Dorcas’ scrappy nature, as the story of ancient lore unfolds. The narrative is immersive and chilling and takes us to the intersection between the faery realm and our own, where we can flit between the two. The story is about friendships tested and how one little brownie will fight tooth and nail for the ones she loves. And Dorcas does love so very fiercely. Brilliant.

This story is a delightful romp back in time to the nostalgic era of the nineteen 50s and 60s. It’s filled to the brim with all the angst and innocence of young people. And it captures the universal experience of first love with so much authenticity and charm that it’s immersive and pacey. The story, while nostalgic, manages to remain timeless and will resonate with readers of all ages. But for us oldies, it’s a heartwarming reminder of that time and the tender emotions and carefree spirit that define youth. And that’s what makes this book stand out. We’ve all been there. We know the author felt every one of those raw emotions and was taken back to her youth as she wrote it. And we are right there with her. I was jolted, a little shocked even, by how adult some of Sarah’s referencing was as a child of eleven, she came across as older—but then I remembered, I had my first proper kiss with a boy at eleven—but like Sarah, clung doggedly to virginity for years after that. This story is innocent and sweet—but that doesn’t mean that adult feelings and emotions aren’t emerging from eleven years old. Their emergence comes with confusion, and young people aren’t equipped to deal with the brutality of them. The author got it bang on the nail and was so, so right. She writes about the complexities of teenage relationships with sensitivity and depth. The characters are real and recognisable. Their hopes, dreams, and insecurities are palpable as they fight with adolescence. Bobby's Girl is a timeless coming-of-age tale that will leave readers smiling, reminiscing about their own youth, and longing for the simplicity and innocence of that time. No spoilers but there’s a lovely surprise during the final scenes that I didn’t see coming. And the whole thing knits together with a great soundtrack, and the pop culture of the time, from leather jackets to Ford Cortina. I loved this book.

I loved every word of this book. It’s a delightful romp around a zoo through the eyes of two inquisitive chimps. It follows the escapades of the two young escapees on their exciting day of freedom. The charming narrative captures the playful spirits of Gigi and Joe as they meet the other animals. The zoo and its inhabitants are brought to life with warmth and humour, as Gigi and Joe are swept up in the day’s excitement. With engaging storytelling and endearing characters, it’s a cracking tale that will captivate readers of all ages. I’m an adult, I loved it. And kids will get lost in the magic of the talking animals. It’s a delightful read that celebrates friendship and curiosity. The grown-up bit for the guardians. This book is perfect for reading to young children, or for readers to read themselves. It would be the perfect choice for primary school teachers, looking for a chapter book to read to their class. It’s a romp of anthropomorphism at its finest. There are some life lessons in there; the lady who doesn’t listen to the little boy with more understanding of a subject than her, and how people can change and should be given second chances to prove themselves. There’s even an index of new words children might be introduced to at the end of the book. The chapter images are sweet and add an extra element to the book. Pure escapism. Parents, do you want a book that you can enjoy along with your child?—This is it. Highly recommended.

A Book That Grabs You by the Throat in Chapter One and Doesn't Let Go. A BBE Recommended Read Award Winner. Make this your ‘Must Read’ book of this year. The writing is stunning and the story is so riveting, that you need to remind yourself that you aren’t actually there. A new author for me and what a fantastic surprise it was. We begin with a young girl leaving home to take up an inheritance. You can read the family dynamics. But she makes the huge decision to leave her world and family behind in the name of adventure. It’s many years before she sees England again. In the late 1880s, you couldn’t fly to the USA in a few hours. We take the sea crossing and then have days of travelling across the land with Cassandra to a different life than she could ever imagine. I love anything to do with travel, and the description is sublime. In my favourite part, later in the book, Cass is explaining something to an ally across a crowded room; how she does it is astounding. The writing is neither under nor overstated and it hits just right. This story is epic and holds you captive for the duration. Sounds painful? It isn’t. Every word is a joy. We have gun fights and power struggles galore, but as Cass takes on the persona of Wild Cass Devlin and learns to fill her father’s boots, the beauty of this story is in the interrelationships. We follow her friendships and her lovers and live through her joy and heartbreak along the way. The author doesn’t shy away from difficult choices. There are several life-affirming dilemmas that the characters have to face in this story. Choices can be hard. And then in a bizarre twist, we have a supernatural element to the story that shouldn’t work. What the heck? But it’s perfect. The book wouldn’t be the same without it. We also have some modern-day descendants of Wild Cass Devlin investigating her story, which ties in with the supernatural element to segway us smoothly into Book Two, which I’m very much looking forward to. There’s a lot to this book. An author with more talent than you can cock a gun at and is highly recommended.

I've read books from people twice this young man's age with half of his craft and skill. One thing I love about this book is it’s a fast ride. We don’t spend thirty-three chapters scene-building before anything happens. Bang! It’s straight into the action from page one. Bryan and Tony are partners, but Bryan lands a bad deal. That leads us into a prison break a decade later, and the quest for revenge that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. The narrative takes us into the underbelly of Sovereign City, where Bryan Wattson's comfortable world is rocked in a dramatic and heart-pounding sequence of events. This book isn’t lacking in twists. The author’s ability to breathe life into his characters is well-developed. They are beautifully drawn and stand tall. I love the flashback scenes that add a quieter depth to the action. Bryan is written in subtle and sometimes not-so-subtle, shades and tones. We know him, from his hardman exterior to his vulnerabilities and flaws laid bare. But every character stands out and is finely nuanced, drawing readers deeper into the story as they get to know the people. It's fast, gritty and well-thought-out. But here’s the kicker. Although it was published later, I discovered that Matthew Slater wrote most of this book when he was fifteen years old. I’ve read books by people twice his age with half of his grasp of written English and story structure. I didn’t know when I read the book, but not realising, from the writing, that it was written by somebody so young blew me away. Slater proves himself to be a master storyteller—and if he writes this well at fifteen, move over Number One on the Bestseller List, somebody’s coming to get you. I see the next book is published, available, and ready to read. I for one, can’t wait.